Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-12-21
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

DECIMAL UNITS AS the Metric System
of Weights and Measures grows in universal
favor, the need of a uniform decimal cur
rency and of decimal system of time meas
urement IS becoming generally felt. Most
countries already possess sJme form of dec-
imal money, aud even Eagland is working
up to the advantages of decimal units A
recent scheme for decin alizing the pound
sterling was we'll supported, the plan being
to adopt the mill as the unit and divide the
sovereign into 1000 mills, thus making the
half-soversign equal 500 mills, the crown
$50. the double form 400 the hall. crown
1876, the forin 100. the shilling so, and the
| sixpence 20. In Wiesbaden step in deci-
NAL time keeping has been taken. A new
| clock divides the day into 10 hours, the
hour into 10 decades, the decade into 10
minutes, the minute into 10 seconds, and
the second into 10 rays. Similar units take
| the place of the ueual degress, minutes and
| seconds in the decision Of the circle.
PNEUMONIA ExrLAINED.-It is generally
supposed that pneumonia is duo to the ac-
cidental penetration of specific microbes in
to the system, but the observations of M.
Jaccoud, French student of the subject,
show that the disease really results from the
development under favorable conditions Of
system. A chief condition Of such develop
ment is q sudden chill, which explains the
frequent coincidence of lung affections with
abrupt changes oftemperature.
A DEVELOPING ART.-Probab bly, no appIi-
cation of science is advancing more reP.
than photography. Among recent app
ances are detective camera in the form
watch, with q charm to hold q supply
su.a kr1ra a ,lofa fo1
era in which distant objects are brought
near by telescopic aid and photographed.
Modern dry plates have made the camera
quite available at night, and exquisite pic
lures are now taken by moonlight and even
by starlight.
DwELLERs IN DARKNESS cave ami
mails of North America, according to Prof
A. s. Packard, comprise total of 172
species of blind creatures, nearly all of which
are mostly white in color
TRACING THE CIRCULATIoN.-Starting
with the idea that the hand varies sensibly
in size with the amount of blood present in
it at any moment, Prof. Mosso, the Italian
psychologist, has made some most interest
ing investigations. In his first experiments
the hand was placed in closed vessel of
water, when the change in the circulation
brain. the smallest thought or movement,
was shown by rise or fall in the liquid in
the narrow neck of the vessel. With large
balance on which the horizontal human
body may be poised he has found that ones
thoughts may be literally weighed, and that
even dreams, or the effect of slight sound
during slumbsr, turn the blood to the brain
sufficiently to sink the balance at the head.
When the brain of the balanced person is
relaxing from thought the flow is toward
the feet, with corresponding oscillation.
The investigator has continued his studies
of the circulation until it seems that he may
almost read oue's thoughts aud sensations.
A tracing from a single pulse beat shows
him whether person is fasting or. not; two
beats serve to determiue whether the sub
ject is a thinking or a needless one, whether
asleep or awake, cold or warm, agitated or
calm. The changing pulse even told him
when professional friend was reading Iteli-
an and when Greek, the greater effort for
the latter duly affecting the b.ood-fow.
WORK OF FIVE YEARs-Prof. j A. Flsm-
Jug. the Elglisa electrician, shows that in
1889 all electric dynamo for 1900 lights
weighed A, 800 pounds, the armature weigh
ed 8. 800 pounds, the space occupied was
800 cubic feet, the horse power required was
per cent. The 1887 machine, with an arma-
ture of 1858 pounds, weighs II, 700 pounds,
occupies about 1870 cubic feet, requires about
liz horsepower, and has commercial ef-
fciency Of over 80 per cent. A given cur
rent costs one-fourth as much as in 1882.
A CURIOUS DIscovERY.-In the tartar of
teeth from skeletons of the stone age, Mr..
Charters White, of the Chronological So
cietv of Great Britain has found sDeeimens
of the food eaten by our prehistoric ances-
tors 5000 years or more ago. The frag-
meuts identified include portions of corn
husks, spiral vessels from vegetables, starch
husks, fruit cells, the point of . fish's tooth,
and bits of wool, feathers and cartilage.
SURGICAL PROGREss.-A5 two of the lead
ing hospitals of Paris the death rate from
amputations of all kinds has fallen from so
per cent in 1880 to about Is per cent at pres
ent.